Pelinal doesn't own Harry Potter or the Elder Scrolls series, if he did he wouldn't be here :(
Discord Invite: DbVVh6Y
7th of Evening Star
Castle Dour Solitude
General Tullius was looking at another report from one of his Legates, incorporating the Stormcloaks was proving to be a bit of a more wee more difficult task than originally thought off, of course no one said it would be easy. When 2 men fight they can usually overcome it and shake hands later on. But when it's 2 large groups. That is more difficult to reconcile, it was worse when its kinsmen and brothers, waging war against each other. Perhaps that's why the nordic word for war was Season Unending.
Putting it down the General picked up another report, bandits. Just great. Even with 4,000 men at his disposal he still didn't have enough. Skyrim was a province with over a million inhabitants give or take and one 100,000 square miles as of the Oblivion crisis. 4,000 to patrol the routes truly is not enough. Yet he doubted the Emperor would send more men from Cyrodiil.
As he continued thinking of a Solution the door to his office opened, the High King himself walked through the door.
"General Tullius, a pleasure." Harry greeted.
The general gave him a small bow "My Lord, what brings you here today."
"I was reading the Census of 3E340 and the Census of 4E5. I doubt these are up to date. We need to do a new census, I know the army is strained as well. We don't even have 1 percent of the total population given the estimates of 4E 175 So we might as well start pressing men into the army. That and we also need to rebuild settlements, encourage new people to move to these areas- General Skyrim will not survive another conflict. If Skyrim is to provide support to Cyrodiil we need maybe at least 500,000 septims total." Harry explained. Measuring the Generals reaction, he continued to press "Maybe i might be able to gather 1000 more from the Orc chieftains but that's about it. Not to mention we don't even have a Navy, so far we have been lucky with Pirates but how much more are we willing to gamble?"
Tullius sighs "Trust me I've been having the same concerns as well. We are gonna have to take this up with the Emperor, maybe he might be more loose with the purse than with his men but I highly doubt it-"
Harry speaks up at this moment saying "So you are saying we are gonna have to establish Skyrim on its own two feet as if it was an Independent nation from the Empire?" The boy turned around to conceal the satisfied smirk that began to spread on his face. "Very well, I will speak to the chiefs, gather whatever men I can muster from them. Meanwhile General, you are to press 20,000 citizens into the military, preferably between 14-18 winters of age. Distribute the recruitment standard to the major cities. As you have probably heard by now I have moved to establish a Battlemage command here in Skyrim, Bretons, Dunmer and a good portion of the Nords, around 30% of those recruited will be sent to the college of Winterhold. That, as well as all the leaflet mages within the legions. Since the Schools are coming along fine, I want to implement an exam, see how proficient they are in maths. Those who score in the higher ranges I Want spread out between Logistics, my RnD corps and a few other specialized units. Those who score high on a physical aptitude will be spread out between the various infantry legions and the Calvary."
The General listened silently, as he watched the boy pace back and forth. "You have put quite a lot of thought into this. I almost have to worry about you turning on Cyrodiil."
Harry stopped his pacing for a second as he looked at tullius in the eyes, "Would I have gone through all the measures I did to secure peace with the Empire? Truth be told I didn't need Cyrodiil to become High King. But I am no idiot."
Looking out the Window the boy looked outside towards the sea "I want to rebuild Skyrim General. From the Oblivion crisis up to the Return of the Dragons Skyrim has been battered time and time again. Even had the capital of a hold burned down twice."
Pausing Harry turned to look back at Tullius, "After we finish ramping up our military, we will move to take back the forts that have laid abandoned and fix them up, from there we will begin to rebuild cities, Old Hroldan, Snowhawk, Winterhold and other cities destroyed during the Oblivion crisis"
"How are we gonna do that?" Tullius questioned him, "most of those places have been left nought but barely salvageable ruins!".
Harry shrugged "We finish demolishing whatever is left, and build up where the old cities lay, open up museums and memorials and whatnot, make them cultural attractions and tourist sites. Skyrim was once the most prosperous province in the Empire aside from Cyrodiil. We ought to restore the throat of the world to its former beauty."
6th of Second Seed 4E 202
Cyrodiil was in chaos, the Emperor had been forced to flee due to the almost daily Assassination attempts on his life. The province itself had been plunged into civil war between the numerous colovian warlords and the Nibenese, the Imperial Legions had been dispersed, or in the case of some, fled from Cyrodiil all together.
The Dominion was preparing to mobilize, they wouldn't need to go to war with the shattered empire to dominate the world! Sure, some warlords might resist. But they had quite a few under their pockets, with victory so Guaranteed. They sat taking their sweet time, not worried about going unchallenged.
Or so they thought.
In the Province of Skyrim, the Hold of Falkreath/New Snowhawk. Thousands of men sat waiting as Their king scouted ahead. Their blood boiled with excitement, for the first time since the age of Tiber Septim, the noble sons of Skyrim would get to partake in the conquering of new lands.
Ever since the census was complete, and the army began its expansion the Nordic Army had swelled up to 9 thousand troops at the ready with 5 legions in reserves and 6 undergoing training. The battlemage command had swelled up from a lackluster 200, to almost 1,700 made up from Nords, Bretons, Dark elves and even the occasional Bosmer.
Finally, 2 dragons Landed near where the main army sat situated, their king, a boy of thirteen winters stood up on a platform for all to see and spoke up.
"900 years ago, our forefathers joined the Armies of Talos, and began a campaign to conquer all of Tamriel under a single Banner. Crowning himself the first Emperor of Tamriel, many states bent the knee. 402 years ago, that good empire died with The Sacrifice of Saint Martin Septim."
Many lowered their heads in respect of the short lived emperor and the fallen.
Seeing their reaction the boy continued "Ever since then the good people of Skyrim faced unending Hardships. For the oblivion crisis was only the end of it, famines, wars, droughts, the red year, raised holds, interregnum, the beginning of the collapse of the empire our fathers built. The great war, the reachmen uprising, civil wars and even the return of Dragons!. Yet… today, today we give cause to celebrate. We will break the chain of causality and misfortune, and I, High King of all of Skyrim, Son of the Goddess Kyne. Proclaim to commencement, of the Second Rise of Skyrim. March forward Sons of Snow! March forward, to a new age!."
With cheers, the armies began to mobilise. Marching forward, meeting little resistance in their way.
They encountered a Small group of Bandits within fort Pale Pass, but that was quickly crushed. Seemed that the Imperial Legions had pulled out. The little taste of battle had done little but encourage the men to march ever forward.
Within the Hour they were within Striking distance of Bruma. Harry halted and ordered his newest unit, the artillery, cannons fired with a compound of fire salts and other reactive ingredients and watched them as they took positional advantage over the city fortress of Bruma.
"Commander, I want you to try and avoid the city walls as much as possible, we want the city to remain defendable by the time the day is over." Harry instructed "I will make any openings necessary."
"Yes my lord."
Harry walked away, towards where Aragorn was leading the Cavalry division. Seeing his horse he sat on the Mare
"Well, Stormcrown. Welcome to my home." The former slave of hermaeus said in jest.
"Interesting place" Harry said as he noted the locals finally began to attempt to mount a defense. "They were slow. We already have the advantage."
He turned back towards the main Army, composed entirely of Crossbow men, Thankfully he had gotten his RnD to make a crossbow that could be fired as quickly as possible, and they delivered. This new version had a container on to drop the bolt into the string via an enchantment that had been as difficult to develop as quickly as it drained. Not the most effective but it had a soul capture enchantment weaved onto the bolt itself to keep the weapon charged.
"Archers! Ready now!." The king called out and the crossbow man all stood in a line, bows angle "Artillery! I want a Salvo on my mark! Calvary! We go when they fire."
Another horse pulled up next to him, and Lady Miraak greeted "Battlemages and the healing corps is ready. We will ride in behind you."
Harry continued to observe the mounting Defense coming from the front gate. He observed the civilians being evacuated into the Chapel.
He waited for 30 minutes, to some it might have seemed counter intuitive, however, he wanted to take the city with as minimum civilian casualty he turned to Miraak "Have the Battlemages concentrate fire on the walls, use area effect frost spells with a few fire ones to stop them from reacting. Artillery! Concentrate fire on the courtyard in front of the main keep. Do not damage the walls! Fire as little as needed."
With those orders, he raised his hands and dropped it. With precision, the opening Salvo of the conquest was fired. Followed by a hail of explosive bolts that centered around where the defenders were stationed.
The battlemages pelted the archer line along the walls with fire and frost spells. The galloping of the Cavalry sounded like the haunting echo of the drum of war as they charged down the hill, taking the poor guards of Bruma and whatever legionnaires had taken up to defend the city. However, their efforts were futile as their defenses were shattered in instants.
As they entered the city they stormed straight towards the keep. As they made their way there, they heard the cannons cease their roar. Most of the defenders lay dead on the ground at this point.
Unmounting his horse Harry looked back at his troops "Meet the infantry in the gate and arrest the surviving defenders. I'll take the count of my own, be ready to divert to cloud Ruler temple, we will need to take that soon as well."
He dismissed the troops, keeping just 2 at his fight as he blew open the doors of the keep. He slowly made his way inside, to where count Desilus Carvain sat waiting for him.
"I didn't expect an army from Skyrim to come parley down here in Cyrodiil. But since the Emperor fled to High Rock… aren't you expecting them or the Dominion to come down at any point?!"
"Count Carvain, a pleasure to meet you. As for The Dominion, My army is more than strong enough to push them from the heartlands and the emperor will have his hands full trying to keep High Rock from fighting itself." Harry answered back. "Sentries, Keep watch of him for now."
With that said he turned around and left the keep, moving towards the city square where the bulk of his army sat waiting. They had moved to re-open the city, with most citizens waiting around the square as well, they all watched him fearfully, expecting him to begin to order their execution.
Harry cleared his throat and spoke up "For over 4000 years even before bruma came into existence, these very lands have been shared between atmorans and nedes, Imperials and Nords as they collaborated in Unity. From Alessia, to Tiber Septim, and as Recently as the great war. Cyrodiil has descended into Civil War. The Empire we have forged almost a thousand years prior has shattered, so now it rests in our hands to rebuild and unite these lands before they collapse into disorder and chaos. It shouldn't take hundreds of years of infighting before we settle into peace once more. So from this day, Skyrim extends her hands, for all fleeing the machinations of war. As we forge a new empire, some may revile this idea, some may revel in it. But still, We welcome you all!"
3 hours later, as the army began to settle in Cloud Ruler Temple and clean out the Skeletons of the blades. Keeping their old Armors and weapons around. The 3 Commanders of the Expansion sat around.
"Aragorn, You will Continue to take the Western bank and Invade the Colovian HighLands and western Cyrodiil. I Want to have the white gold tower cut off from that route by the end of Last Seed." Harry demanded as he point out strategically Important locations on a Map, including the principalities various forts and roads of Importance. "I'll take the Eastern Side, It should only take me 2 months to take Cheydinhal and make my way down to the Nibenay Valley. From there We can take the White gold Tower after securing Lake Rumera the Niben bay. Make sure to tow the cannons with the horses, we don't have time to waste. Miraak will Switch out with me After securing the Nibenay Basin, I'll have to return to Skyrim.Dismissed."
That night, Harry sat around the Balcony of the Temple as he sat Watching the White Gold Tower. The Domain of Akatosh.
He heard a portal open up behind him and heard his father speak "You've done well. Soon you'll be the Emperor."
Harry gave him a nod, "That I will be."
"Soon it'll be time to introduce you to your mother. She's getting suspicious of Ivy's almost daily disappearances." James said.
"Well, they'll stop for a while. I'll be too busy managing Imperial expansion." Harry said softly.
"Mhmm… tell me Harry, What are your intentions?"
"To be honest… I don't know yet, I've been following this path that has being laid out before me for so long. I guess continue doing it?"
James shook his head "Perhaps is time to also do your own thing on the side?"
"Perhaps."